Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many outstanding claims there are for farm subsidies from previous years.

Ross Finnie: The number of outstanding claims (that is claims still being considered after the payment window) for the main subsidy schemes covered by the Common Agricultural Policy for each of the five previous years is set out in the table below.

  

 Scheme
 Scheme 
  Year


 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003


 Sheep Annual Premium 
  Scheme 
 0
 0
 0
 0
 95


 Suckler Cow Premium 
  Scheme*
 0
 0
 0
 0
 -


 Beef Special Premium 
  Scheme*
 0
 0
 0
 72
 -


 Slaughter Premium 
  Scheme*
 n/a
 0
 0
 125
 -


 Extensification 
  Payments Scheme*
 n/a
 0
 0
 0
 -


 Less Favoured 
  Areas Support Scheme
 n/a
 n/a
 12
 8
 6


 Arable Area Payments 
  Scheme
 4
 8
 1
 2
 5



  Note:

  *No comparable figure for 2003 since payment window runs until 30 June 2004.

Agriculture

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of outstanding disputed farm subsidy claims there have been in each of the last five years.

Ross Finnie: In November 2000, I introduced the EU Agricultural Subsidies Appeals procedure to deal with disputed subsidy claims.

  Since the procedure became operational, 650 appeals have been received. In 2001 we received 84, in 2002, 270 and in 2003, 251. So far 45 appeals have been received in 2004. There is no record of claims in dispute prior to this period.

Ambulance Service

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) paramedics and (b) technicians are employed by each NHS board.

Malcolm Chisholm: Paramedics and technicians are employed by the Scottish Ambulance Service, which is a special health board.

  Information held by ISD Scotland on numbers of paramedics and technicians employed by the Scottish Ambulance Service across NHSScotland as a whole is published in Section F of the Scottish Health Statistics website under Workforce Statistics, at www.isdscotland.org/workforce. 

  This information is not broken down by NHS board area.

Ambulance Service

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £5.1 million programme to put new high-tech heart machines in every front-line ambulance will be ring-fenced for use in ambulances in Glasgow.

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many front-line ambulances there are, broken down by NHS board area.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Ambulance Service has 496 front-line ambulances, 70 of which are based in NHS Greater Glasgow. By the end of May 2004 there will be a new high-tech heart machine in every front-line ambulance. I will write to the Member with the full breakdown of numbers of ambulances by NHS board area in the near future.

Angling

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce rod licenses on the River Tweed.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive has no plans at the moment for introducing rod licences on the River Tweed or any other Scottish rivers.

Asthma

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will draw up a national health care strategy to tackle asthma in light of recent research highlighting that it is a widespread and complex condition.

Malcolm Chisholm: A spectrum of measures is in train within Scotland which reflects the importance the Executive attaches to addressing asthma. These include:

  The new GP contract includes asthma as a condition, which will attract extra remuneration for doctors, if they meet standards of care. All practices are required to provide essential services, including management of chronic disease in a manner determined by the practice in discussion with the patient.

  The new contracts for other health professionals enable the use of their expertise to address the review and management of people with asthma in the wider primary care teams. For example, the pharmacy strategy, The Right Medicine, is developing the role of community pharmacists through model schemes. This includes pharmacists taking part in the chronic disease management of asthma.

  Some personal medical pilots, which are another form of GP contract, have also been funded to develop improved chronic disease management in asthma.

  Practice accreditation procedures look into the management of chronic diseases including asthma. This involves following protocols and guidelines and the intention is that all practices should be accredited by the end of 2004.

  The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network, which is funded by the Executive through NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, published good practice guidelines on asthma management jointly with the British Thoracic Society in February last year.

  Other initiatives by the Executive which will benefit people with asthma include our efforts to reduce smoking in public places and the yearly influenza vaccination for high risk groups including asthma.

  In addition, the Chief Scientist Office is currently committed to funding nine research projects on asthma at a cost of £783,439.

  Community Health Partnerships (which were signalled in the White Paper, Partnership for Care) will have a particular focus on delivering improvements in the management of chronic conditions. They will have a critical role as the main focus for service integration for local communities with a particular emphasis on closing the health gap and delivering improvements particularly in relation to the management of chronic diseases for adults and children. One of their strengths will be their ability to provide a holistic approach to care.

Bute House

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish guidelines on the use of Bute House by Scottish ministers; when any such guidelines were approved, and by whom.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Ministerial Code sets out the principles for the appropriate use of buildings designated as an official residence. A copy of the code is available on the Scottish Executive website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/about/FCSD/CabSec/00014944/MinisterialCode.aspx.

Bute House

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-6947 by Mr Andy Kerr on 7 April 2004, which of these functions or receptions were not paid for from public funds; whether the cost was met by other organisations or individuals and, if so, which organisations or individuals, stating how much was contributed in each case.

Mr Andy Kerr: The cost of all events provided in the answer were met from public funds.

Bute House

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to S2W-6947 by Mr Andy Kerr on 7 April 2004, whether it will publish a list of those invited to official receptions at Bute House since May 2003.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive does not publish lists of guests who have attended official functions at Bute House or elsewhere.

Courts

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to end the district court system.

Cathy Jamieson: The Report of the Summary Justice Review Committee was published on 16 March 2004. It makes a number of recommendations in relation to reform of the criminal courts in Scotland, including the creation of a unified court administration managed by the Scottish Court Service. The Executive is currently consulting on the report’s recommendations. The consultation period runs until 16 July. No decisions will be taken on the report’s recommendations until the consultation period is complete.

Deaf and Hard Of Hearing People

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many specialised social workers there are for deaf and hard of hearing people, broken down by local authority area.

Mr Tom McCabe: This information is not held centrally.

Deaf and Hard Of Hearing People

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements in training in deaf awareness for social workers there will be when single shared assessment is fully implemented and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 comes into force.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Sensory Impairment Action Plan, launched in January 2004 recognises the importance of improving training for staff who provide services for people with a sensory impairment, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing, and the Scottish Executive is now taking the work of the Action Plan forward to address issues, including training for social work and other staff.

  We would expect local authorities to abide by the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act when it comes into force.

  We would expect the focus on a person-centred approach in single shared assessment to improve understanding of individual’s needs. Councils will determine their training needs in the light of the Scottish Executive’s guidance on single shared assessment.

Deaf and Hard Of Hearing People

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to encourage and recruit more specialised social workers for deaf and hard of hearing people.

Mr Tom McCabe: More social workers are being trained. There was a 25% increase in qualifying social workers in 2003, and these numbers will increase by a further 33% over the next two years. The Social Work Services Inspectorate is significantly increasing investment in training over the next three years and is keen to work closely with all service providers, including those who work with people who are deaf or hard of hearing, to improve training of staff.

  The Sensory Impairment Action Plan, launched by the Scottish Executive in January 2004 recognises the importance of having trained staff available to work with people who are deaf and hard of hearing, and is now taking the work of the Action Plan forward to address the needs identified.

Debt

Colin Fox (Lothians) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive why the statute of limitation on debt recovery after six years does not apply in Scotland.

Cathy Jamieson: The six-year limitation on debt recovery is contained in the Limitation Act 1980, which applies only to England and Wales. The equivalent Scottish provisions, in terms of which claims for debt are extinguished by prescription after five years, are contained in the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973 which resulted from recommendations made by the Scottish Law Commission in 1970.

Disclosure Scotland

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances a disclosure from Disclosure Scotland would cease to remain valid.

Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-7960 on 17 May 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Drug Misuse

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people publicly-funded to deal with, or counsel, drug misusers have been convicted of drugs-related offences in each of the last four years.

Hugh Henry: The information requested is not held centrally.

  Terms and conditions of employment, including requirements for declarations of criminal convictions, are for individual employers to determine. The Disclosure Scotland service enhances public safety by providing potential employers and the voluntary sector with criminal history information on individuals applying for posts.

Drug Misuse

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any proposals to require people publicly-funded to deal with, or counsel, drug misusers to be subject to random drug testing.

Hugh Henry: The Executive has no plans to do so.

  Requirements for drug testing are contractual issues for individual employers and their employees.

Economy

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to create a comprehensive computer-based model of the economy that can offer increased accuracy and a basis for testing the effects of government policy.

  The member has provided the following Gaelic translation:

  A dh’ fhaighneachd de Riaghaltas na h-Alba dè na planaichean a tha ann gus modal cuimseach coimpiutaireachd a chruthachadh den eaconomaidh a bhios nas ceirte agus a bhios comasach air buaidh poileasaidh an riaghaltais a mheasadh.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive produces a wide range of economic indicators which are used by a number of external organisations to develop models of the Scottish economy. We work closely with these organisations, and continually develop the range and quality of the information we produce and as a result, the accuracy of the models they support. This approach is judged to make optimum use of the available resources, and to maximise the benefits of working with external experts to develop a shared understanding of the effects of Government policy on the Scottish economy.

  The Executive has provided the following Gaelic translation:

  Tha iomadh comharra eaconamach a’ tighinn bho Riaghaltas na h-Alba a tha air an cleachdadh le grunn bhuidhnean air an taobh a-muigh gus modalan de eaconamaidh na h-Alba a chruthachadh. Tha sinn ag obrachadh gu dlùth le na buidhnean sin, agus gu tric a’ leasachadh ìre agus inbhe an fhiosrachaidh a tha sinn a’ cur a-mach agus mar sin, cothromachd nam modal dham bheil iad a’ toirt taic. Thathar den bheachd gu bheil an dòigh-obrach seo a’ dèanamh an fheum as fheàrr den stòras, agus a’ meudachadh nam buannachdan de bhith ag obair còmhla ri eòlaichean bhon taobh a-muigh gus tuigse choitcheann fhaighinn mu bhuaidh poileasaidh an Riaghaltais air eaconamaidh na h-Alba.

Economy

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3348 by Mr Jim Wallace on 5 November 2003, how much GDP per person in employment in Scotland will have to grow to achieve the same level as the UK average in 2003-04.

Mr Jim Wallace: The latest gross domestic product figures available for Scotland are presented in the Office for National Statistics regional accounts. These show that in 2002 (the latest year available), Scottish Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was estimated to be £73 billion at current basic prices, resulting in an average GDP per economically active person (2002 June to August Labour Force Survey) of £28,950. The UK equivalent (excluding extra-regio activity) was £30,760. This implies that, for the same population and workforce in Scotland in 2002, the average GDP per economically active person would need to have been £1,810 higher in order to reach the same level as the UK average. This means total GDP would have had to have been £4.5 billion or 6.2% higher. (Note that this would, in turn, result in an increase in the actual average UK GDP/economically active person).

  Based on the Scottish Executive series at 2000 prices, Scottish GDP grew by 1.6% in real terms from 2002 to 2003, whereas the UK grew by 1.8% overall (including extra-regio). In addition, between summer 2002 and 2003, the Labour Force Survey estimates that the number of economically active people in Scotland grew slightly faster than in the UK overall. Therefore we would expect the difference between Scotland and the UK in Gross Value Added per economically active person to widen by a small amount in 2003.

Economy

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3349 by Mr Jim Wallace on 5 November 2003, how much GDP will have to grow in Scotland to achieve the same level as the UK average per head in 2003-04.

Mr Jim Wallace: The latest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures available for Scotland are presented in the Office for National Statistics regional accounts. This shows that in 2002 (the latest year available), Scottish GDP was estimated to be £73 billion at current basic prices, resulting in an average GDP per head of £14,440. The UK equivalent (excluding extra-regio activity) was £15,259. This implies that, for the same population in Scotland in 2002, the average GDP per head would need to have been £820 higher (i.e. £4.1 billion or 5.7% on total GDP) in order to reach the same level as the UK average (note that this would, in turn, result in an increase in the actual average UK GDP/head).

  Based on the Scottish Executive quarterly GDP series, Scottish GDP grew by 1.6% in real terms from 2002 to 2003, whereas the UK grew by 1.8% overall (including extra-regio). Assuming the population were to stay the same or change by the same amount, this implies that we might expect the difference between Scotland and the UK to increase slightly in 2003. Office of National Statistics intend to publish 2003 figures in December 2004.

Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any research evidence that pupils from rural schools perform less well at secondary school level than their urban counterparts.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive is not aware of any research with this conclusion.

Education

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what best practices it is learning from the Department for Education and Skills’ Early Support Pilot Programme and how these are informing processes and services in Scotland.

Euan Robson: We will publish an Integrated Early Years Strategy later this year and we will consider any lessons when they emerge from the Early Support Pilot Programme.

Education

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it will make available for a Scottish equivalent of the Department for Education and Skills’ Early Support Pilot Programme.

Euan Robson: We are not at this time making specific funding available in this way.

  I refer the member to the answer given to S2W-7978 on 18 May 2004, for how we are tackling the parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search .

Education

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children in each local authority area will be eligible for the education maintenance allowance in the academic years (a) 2004-05, (b) 2005-06 and (c) 2006-07.

Mr Jim Wallace: Education Maintenance Allowances (EMAs) is a demand led programme and as such all eligible students who apply will be funded.

  We cannot anticipate how many individuals will be eligible at local authority level. This information is not held centrally.

  Take up across Scotland over the next three academic years is approximated at:

  2004-05, 15,000 (approximately)

  2005-06, 28,000

  2006-07, 35,000.

  Approximately 2/3 of those taking part in the programme will be in the school sector.

Education

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been allocated in each local authority for the education maintenance allowance in each of the next five academic years.

Mr Jim Wallace: Education Maintenance Allowances (EMAs) is a demand led programme and as such all eligible students who apply will be funded.

  EMA budgets are not broken down by local authority areas. Over the next three academic years expenditure across both school and FE sectors is estimated as follows:

  2004-05, £27.2 million

  2005-06, £35.0 million

  2006-07, £40.0 million.

  Approximately two thirds of those taking part in the programme will be in the school sector.

  Individual local authorities will receive support to defray additional costs incurred in the administration of the EMA programme. These costs are calculated on the following basis:

  

 
 Local Authority


 Set up Costs (yr 1 only) paid 
  on 5 April 2004
 £12,000 per Local 
  Authority


 Administration Costs paid on 
  5 April 2004
 £25,000 per Local 
  Authority


 Student top up payable on receipt 
  of student totals Jan/Feb 2005
 £15 per accepted 
  student

Environment

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2O-1997 by Allan Wilson on 22 April 2004, what byelaws will require to be enacted in relation to the Border Esk and what the procedure for enacting them will be.

Allan Wilson: The Scotland Act 1998 (Border Rivers) Order 1999 makes provisions for management of salmon and freshwater fisheries principally in relation to the River Esk.

  Byelaws will be required to address a number of fisheries management issues, including regulation of fishing effort and collection of catch statistics. These are made under existing primary legislation by UK Ministers. However, they require agreement by Scottish ministers.

European Union

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the achievements have been of Scotland's presidency of the Group of Regions with Legislative Powers.

Mr Andy Kerr: As President of REGLEG, the First Minister has raised the profile of the demands of the legislative regions for greater involvement in European decision-making in a number of fora. He addressed the Chamber of the Regions of the Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe on 23 March. He also repeated REGLEG’s demands to Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission, at the inaugural meeting on 10 May of the "Systematic Dialogue" organised by the Commission. Under the Scottish Presidency, REGLEG continues to press for the inclusion of the references to the role of the regions and to subsidiarity in the draft Constitution currently under consideration by the Intergovernmental Conference.

  In support of Scotland’s REGLEG Presidency, the Scottish Executive EU Office recently held a "sub rosa" conference involving senior officials and academics from across Europe to consider how the subsidiarity proposals in the draft Treaty could be made to work effectively. The report of the conference is available on the Executive’s website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/about/UNASS/UNASS/00015181/Home.aspx.

  The Scottish Presidency is also developing REGLEG as a network for exchange of best practice; in this framework the Executive is hosting a European conference on Policing Youth Justice on 5 to 6 July.

  The First Minister will host the 5th Annual Conference of the Presidents of the Regions with Legislative Powers on 29-30 November.

European Union

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings have taken place between it and Her Majesty's Government to discuss the draft European Constitution since the Prime Minister's announcement of a referendum; who attended each such meeting; what issues were discussed, and when and where each meeting took place.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with Her Majesty’s Government about a wide range of issues, including the progress of the Intergovernmental Conference on the draft Constitution for Europe.

External Relations

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government and what specific proposals it has made to ministers of Her Majesty’s Government regarding its priorities for the proposed "Focal Points" meeting to be held in Dublin on 4 May 2004 and whether Scottish ministers will attend the General Affairs and External Relations Councils of 17 to 18 May and 14 to 15 June 2004.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive was consulted by Her Majesty’s Government on its priorities for the "Focal Points" meeting held on 4 May 2004. Throughout the Intergovernmental Conference, the Executive has had an input to the UK Government’s consideration of its negotiating lines and it contributed to the Government White Paper on this topic. Scottish ministers will not attend the General Affairs and External Relations Councils of 17 to 18 and 14 to 15 June.

Fire Service

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council last met and when it will next meet.

Hugh Henry: The Scottish Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council last met on 30 October 2003.

  The next meeting will take place in the near future, on a date to be arranged.

Fisheries

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will contribute to the North Atlantic Salmon Fund for the buy-out of the north east coast drift net fishery, in light of HM Treasury’s contribution of £1.25 million to the fund, the level of expenditure on, and jobs supported by, tourism angling and the number of salmon taken in the drift net fishery that head for Scottish rivers.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive has no current plans to contribute to the buy out of England’s north east drift net fishery. As the buy-out of the north east drift net fishery is a matter of stock management, the responsibility for this lies with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what underspend there was in the (a) fishing vessel decommissioning and (b) transitional aid schemes in 2003 and how much has been paid out so far for the purposes of rates relief for onshore businesses affected by the 2002 fisheries agreement.

Ross Finnie: We made provision for expenditure of up to £10 million on Transitional Support Grant; and up to £40 million on the 2003 decommissioning scheme. In the event, expenditure on decommissioning is expected to be just over £30.5 million and, that on Transitional Support Grant just under £9.2 million.

  The latest figure we have regarding the amount of hardship relief granted by local authorities to businesses affected by the reduction in whitefish catches is £198,920 (as at 8 January 2004). Up to date information will be available once local authorities supply their mid-year estimates during October 2004.

Further and Higher Education

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to restructure the higher and further education sector and, if so, what plans there are and what the timescale for implementation of such plans will be.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Executive has recently published a consultation paper and draft legislation regarding its proposals to merge the Scottish Further Education Funding Council and the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council. Beyond this merger of the funding bodies, there are no plans to restructure the further and higher education sectors.

  Copies of the consultation paper are available on the Scottish Executive internet site www.scotland.gov.uk/consultations/education/cltes-00.asp. Copies have also been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. numbers: 32496 – Consultation Paper and 32497 – Draft Bill).

  The closing date for the consultation is 15 July 2004, and depending on responses received, our intention is to lay the legislation before Parliament in late summer/early autumn.

Further and Higher Education

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the most recent attrition rate is for all nursing students, including the three year course, the shortened course for graduates and the integrated degree course combined.

Malcolm Chisholm: The table below shows average attrition rates for 1992-93 to 1999-2000 for the three-year course (diploma), the degree course and the shortened course for graduates.

  

 Three-Year Course 
  (Diploma)1
 23.5%


 Degree Course2
 20.5%


 Shortened Course3
 15.4%



  Source: NHS Education for Scotland

  1. The data provided for diploma courses comprises general, children, mental health, learning disability and midwifery courses.

  2. Data provided for degree courses comprises general, mental health and learning disability courses.

  3. Data provided for short courses comprises general, children, mental health and learning disability.

Gaelic

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many secondary school students are currently studying Gaelic as a subject for learners.

  The member has provided the following Gaelic translation:

  A dh’fhaighneachd de Riaghaltas na h-Alba cò mheud sgoilear a tha a’ dèanamh Gàidhlig mar chuspair do luchd-ionnsachaidh aig ìre na h-àrdsgoil aig an àm seo.

Peter Peacock: In 2003-04 there were 2,513 secondary school students studying Gaelic as a subject for learners in thirty-four secondary schools. This represents an increase of 6% over the previous year’s total of 2,370.

  The Executive has provided the following Gaelic translation:

  Ann an 2003-04 bha 2,513 sgoilearan a’ dèanamh Gàidhlig mar chuspair do luchd-ionnsachaidh aig ìre na h-àrdsgoile ann an trìthead ’s a ceithir àrdsgoil. Tha seo a’ comharrachadh àrdachadh de 6% thar àireamh iomlan na bliadhna roimhe de 2,370.

Gaelic

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many primary school pupils are taught Gaelic through the Gaelic Language in Primary School scheme and what plans it has to expand this scheme and Gaelic medium education.

  The member has provided the following Gaelic translation:

  A dh’fhaighneachd de Riaghaltas na h-Alba cò mheud sgoilear a tha ag ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig anns a’ bhunsgoil aig an àm seo tron sgeama Gàidhlig anns a’ Bhunsgoil (GLPS) agus dè na planaichean a tha aca gus an sgeama seo, agus gus Foghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig a leudachadh.

Peter Peacock: The information requested about the number of primary pupils taught Gaelic through the Gaelic Language in Primary School Scheme is not held by the Executive. The scheme is managed at local authority level by Highland Council, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and a consortium of five other local authorities. It is hoped that three further authorities will participate in the scheme this year and that there will be an increase in the teachers trained to deliver Gaelic in the primary school.

  The expansion of Gaelic medium education (GME) is also a matter for local authorities. The Scottish Executive seeks to support GME by means of guidance to authorities, distribution of Specific Grant, the recruitment of Gaelic teachers as a priority and the improvement of the range and quality of resources and materials available for Gaelic education.

  The Executive has provided the following Gaelic translation:

  Chan eil am fiosrachadh a chaidh iarraidh mun àireamh de chloinn a tha ag ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig sa bhunsgoil tron sgeama Gàidhlig anns a’ Bhunsgoil aig Riaghaltas na h-Alba. Tha an Sgeama air a riaghladh aig ìre nan ùghdarras ionadail le Comhairle na Gaidhealtachd, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar agus co-bhanntachd de chòig ùghdarrasan ionadail eile. Thathar an dòchas gun com-pàirtich trì ùghdarrasan eile san sgeama am bliadhna agus gum bi barrachd thidsearan air an trèanadh airson na Gàidhlig a theagasg sa bhunsgoil.

  Tha leudachadh air foghlam meadhan-Gàidhlig cuideachd an urra ri ùghdarrasan ionadail. Tha Riaghaltas na h-Alba airson taic a thoirt do GME tro stiùireadh do ùghdarrasan, a’ riarachadh Tabhartas Sònraichte, mòr-chudrom air fastadh thidsearan Gàidhlig agus leasachadh air farsaingeachd agus càileachd nan goireasan agus stuthan a tha rim faotainn airson foghlam Gàidhlig.

Gaelic

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Gaelic language schemes such as the Gaelic Language in the Primary School scheme are eligible for funding from the £4 million fund for primary school language teaching announced in its news release SEED451c/2004.

  The member has provided the following Gaelic translation:

  A dh’fhaighneachd de Riaghaltas na h-Alba a bheil sgeamaichean Gàidhlig mar an sgeama Gàidhlig anns a’ Bhunsgoil (GLPS) ion-roghnaidh airson maoineachadh bhon stòras ùr £4 millean airson teagasg chànan anns a’ bhunsgoil a chaidh ainmeachadh anns an fhios naidheachd aige SEED451c/2004.

Peter Peacock: Gaelic Language in the Primary School schemes are eligible for funding under the Scottish Executive Language Fund and a number of local authorities are currently using the funding to support Gaelic for learners.

  The Executive has provided the following Gaelic translation:

  Tha sgeamaichean Gàidhlig anns a’ Bhunsgoil ion-roghnach airson maoineachadh fo Mhaoin Cànain Riaghaltas na h-Alba agus tha grunn ùghdarrasan ionadail ga chleachdadh aig an àm seo airson taic a chur ri Gàidhlig do luchd-ionnsachaidh.

General Practitioners

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is to see a GP, broken down by NHS board.

Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not collected at a national level or held centrally. The waiting time for patients to see a GP is dependent on a number of factors including clinical need.

Health

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost per year is of treating eligible patients with photodynamic therapy who have wet age-related macular degeneration with pure classic or predominately classic lesions.

Malcolm Chisholm: Planning work has recently been initiated to assess patient needs in Scotland and the costs of treatment.

Health

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS treatment centres have the facilities to treat people with age-related macular degeneration with photodynamic therapy.

Malcolm Chisholm: At present services are provided from hospitals in North and South Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh. There are facilities in other areas and work is in hand to develop and extend the service in Scotland for the future.

Health

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many retinal specialists there are who are expert in administrating photodynamic therapy for patients with age-related macular degeneration, broken down by NHS board.

Malcolm Chisholm: There are eight such specialists in Scotland who are employed by NHS Boards as below:

  Argyll and Clyde, 1

  Grampian, 2

  Greater Glasgow, 2

  Lanarkshire, 1

  Lothian, 2.

Health

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review how NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (QIS) issues guidance relevant to Scotland following a National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) appraisal, given that NICE guidance provides the NHS implications of cost and further research for England and Wales and there is no further publication offered by NHS QIS giving such costs for Scotland.

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will instruct NHS Quality Improvement Scotland to issue separate publications on National Institute of Clinical Excellence guidance that show clearly the implications to the NHS in Scotland of costs and recommendations for further research.

Malcolm Chisholm: The processes for issuing guidance were reviewed with NHSScotland in 2002. It was agreed that separate work on the resource implications for Scotland of NICE technology appraisal guidance was not an effective or efficient use of public resources, and led to delay in issuing NICE guidance in Scotland. As with all its work NHS QIS will, however, keep this under review.

Health

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the incorporation of the Health Technology Board for Scotland into NHS Quality Improvement Scotland has affected the target of achieving 25 health technology assessments by December 2006.

Malcolm Chisholm: One of the main reasons for establishing NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) was to coordinate work on clinical effectiveness and quality improvement more effectively. This has resulted in the forward work plans of all the predecessor organisations being reviewed to ensure that NHS QIS resources are used to best effect on behalf of patients. Health technology appraisals remain an important part of NHS QIS portfolio of activities, and are being targeted on areas where they have the potential to contribute most to improvement in patient care.

Health

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in implementing the commitment of its Health Department to explore, with the Common Services Agency (CSA), the creation of a combined community and hospital medicines utilisation database, as referred to in The Right Medicine: A Strategy for Pharmaceutical Care in Scotland .

Malcolm Chisholm: The CSA are at an early stage in developing the structure to enable the collection of hospital data in preparation for a combined community-hospital database.

Health

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of the privately-funded photodynamic therapy treatment centres for age-related macular degeneration will carry out NHS work.

Malcolm Chisholm: Information on privately – funded treatment centres is not available centrally.

Health

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the delay in implementing the National Institute of Clinical Excellence's Technology Appraisal No.68 in September 2003 on guidance on the use of photodynamic therapy for age-related macular degeneration will extend to Scotland.

Malcolm Chisholm: Patients in Scotland for whom treatment is recommended in the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance have access to treatment now. Work is in hand at a Scotland level to strengthen the current pattern of service and improve access and response times.

Health

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all primary care trusts are able to implement the NHS Quality Improvement Scotland guidance on photodynamic therapy for patients with age-related macular degeneration.

Malcolm Chisholm: All NHS boards have been instructed to make this service available to meet clinical need.

Health

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards have not made budget allocations for the treatment of photodynamic therapy for patients with age-related macular degeneration.

Malcolm Chisholm: All NHS boards have now been requested to make resources available to fund treatment as required in order to meet clinical need.

Health

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information can be made available about the monitoring of the performance of NHS boards in providing photodynamic therapy for patients with age-related macular degeneration.

Malcolm Chisholm: Work is under way to develop a Scotland-wide photodynamic therapy service and monitoring arrangements to ensure a fair and equitable service is delivered to meet clinical need. NHS boards are involved in this process. The Scottish Executive Health Department will continue to monitor the provision of the service.

Health

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will recruit retinal specialist staff trained in the administering of the new photodynamic therapy treatment for patients with age-related macular degeneration.

Malcolm Chisholm: Scotland has played a key role in developing photodynamic therapy for patients with age-related macular degeneration and, there are already trained retinal specialist staff in Grampian, Lanarkshire, Argyll and Clyde, Lothian and Glasgow.

  A planning exercise for the services and specialised workforce needed for a Scotland-wide service is under way. As part of this, an assessment will be made of whether any additional retinal specialist staff are required.

Health

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take to ensure that all NHS boards make budget allocations so that there is no "postcode" treatment for patients with age-related macular degeneration.

Malcolm Chisholm: A national planning exercise has been initiated to plan the service for Scotland and ensure equitable access.

Health

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2F-849 by Mr Jack McConnell on 29 April 2004 ( Official Report , c 7931-7932), how many meetings have been held to discuss the application forms; when and where such meetings took place; who chaired the meetings; who was invited to attend the meetings and who represented Scotland; whether there are any minutes of these meetings, and who was selected to draft the forms and why.

Malcolm Chisholm: There have been a number of meetings between officials of the four UK administrations since the announcement of the scheme in August 2003 concerning fundamental aspects that have a bearing on the application forms. Draft application forms prepared by the Macfarlane Trust were discussed at a meeting on 26 March 2004 which was also attended by representatives of Haemophilia Society, the Scottish Haemophilia Groups Forum, the Hepatitis C Trust, the Macfarlane Trust, the Primary Immunodeficiency Association, Capital C, and Haemophilia Wales. A representative from the Haemophilia Society of Northern Ireland was invited but was unable to attend.

Health

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how the Skipton Trust will be configured and who will be appointed as its trustees and by what selection process.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Skipton Fund was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee on 25 March 2004. No substantive appointments have as yet been made.

Health

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance will be given to claimants in completing the forms for application to the Skipton Trust.

Malcolm Chisholm: Officials are working with patient group representatives to ensure that the applications forms are user friendly and fit for purpose. Comprehensive guidance will be provided with the application form and the Skipton Fund will operate a telephone helpline.

Health

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the General Medical Council was consulted with regard to the forms for application to the Skipton Trust.

Malcolm Chisholm: The General Medical Council was not consulted.

Health

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what process will be established for representation at appeals when a claim is rejected by the Skipton Trust and whether assistance will be provided with such representation and, if so, what form this will take.

Malcolm Chisholm: An appeals process will be established but this is still under discussion.

Health

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of those infected with hepatitis C through contaminated blood products have died since the publication of the Health and Community Care Committee's 17th Report 2001 (Session 1) Report on Hepatitis C (SP Paper 398).

Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not held centrally.

Housing

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-2062 by Allan Wilson on 11 September 2003, whether it will provide a breakdown of the €7,355,440 total contributed, showing the actual sum to be contributed by (a) it, (b) Scottish Natural Heritage, (c) the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, (d) the Forestry Commission and (e) the European Union.

Allan Wilson: As detailed in my previous answer to parliamentary question S2W-2062, the Scottish Executive has made available direct match funding totalling 138,571 euros and the European Commission 50% support equates to €3,677,720.

  The Forestry Commission Scotland contribution amounts to €1,130,720

  Queries about the funding provided by Scottish Natural Heritage and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds should be made directly to these organisations.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search wa.

ICL Plastics Incident

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what form the investigation into the tragic incident in Maryhill last week will take and whether there will be a public inquiry.

Colin Boyd QC: I have now had discussions with the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission. We have agreed that Strathclyde Police and the Health and Safety Executive will conduct a joint investigation into the explosion at ICL Plastics in Glasgow on 11 May 2004. Strathclyde Police and the Health and Safety Executive will report to the Procurator Fiscal on the outcome of their investigation. The Health and Safety Executive will also report to the Health and Safety Commission.

  A joint investigation protocol has been prepared and a co-ordinated approach to the collection of evidence initiated.

  After the investigation has been completed then Crown Counsel will consider whether there is any basis for taking criminal proceedings. Thereafter, I will consider the need for a Fatal Accident Inquiry and consideration will be given to the need for any other form of public inquiry.

Justice

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the procedure is in circumstances where an accused person, having launched an appeal against sentence, has that appeal refused at the second sift stage.

Cathy Jamieson: The decision of the High Court, or second sift, in applications for leave to appeal is final, subject only to the right of the convicted person to apply to the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission for review.

  The commission has the power to review a case where an alleged miscarriage of justice has occurred and, where appropriate, to refer it to the High Court for determination.

Justice

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when further guidance for inclusion in the child witness support pack will be issued.

Hugh Henry: Guidance on Child Witness Court Familiarisation Visits  is being issued today. The guidance sets out standards of best practice for all those who carry out pre-trial visits with the aim of helping to reduce the anxiety and stress experienced by children when attending court. It is the outcome of wide consultation and has the support of major justice agencies and children’s groups. The guidance is the third document in a series on child witness support and follows guidance on Interviewing Child Witnesses and Questioning Children in Court.

  Copies have been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 32531).

Livestock

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what modelling was carried out to support its decision to replace the Bull Hire Scheme with a grant scheme.

Allan Wilson: None. The decision was based on an evaluation which was made available in the Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 32088) and published on the Crofters Commission website. The decision also had regard to concerns as to the extent to which the Bull Hire Scheme is consistent with the Community Guidelines for State Aid in the Agricultural Sector.

Livestock

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any modelling that informed the decision to replace the Bull Hire Scheme with a grant scheme will be made public.

Allan Wilson: This decision was taken on the basis of concerns about compliance with EU state aids rules and value for money. The evaluation of the scheme has already been made public.

Livestock

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what form the grant scheme that will replace the Bull Hire Scheme will take.

Allan Wilson: The details of the scheme have not yet been developed. We have commissioned a consultant to prepare proposals for a replacement cattle improvement scheme. We will be working closely with key interests to work up such a scheme. It is essential that these new arrangements are clearly compliant with state aid rules.

  The new arrangements will give crofting groups far greater control over improvement of their stock.

  The arrangements are likely to take the form of grants, payable on expenditure to implement plans to deliver genetic improvement. Grant levels will not exceed 50% of costs incurred. Our intention is that all those who are eligible for assistance under the current Bull Hire Scheme should be eligible to apply for grant.

  Aside from these basic requirements the structure of the scheme is yet to be determined.

Livestock

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive in what way (a) the decision to replace the Bull Hire Scheme and (b) the proposed successor schemes (i) support the Forward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture and (ii) address any concerns about the loss of cattle from peripheral areas.

Allan Wilson: The Bull Hire Scheme preceded the Forward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture by many years and had no link to it. The proposed replacement scheme can however be expected to take account of the strategy. It is intended that it will allow crofters to control the improvement of their stock with a focus on the market in a way that is not possible under the existing scheme which allocates the limited range of bulls available on the stud farm to crofting groups. Concern at the possible loss of cattle from peripheral areas was one of the principal reasons we decided to introduce a replacement scheme. There is no reason to suppose that a scheme that will be better at enabling crofters to respond to market pressures will be any less effective than the present arrangements at combating such loss.

Livestock

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reconsider its position to abolish the crofters’ livestock improvement schemes in light of concerns from across the crofting and farming industry and conservation bodies.

Allan Wilson: No. Although I have announced the closure of the current Livestock Improvement Schemes, I also stated that work is underway to develop and introduce a new grant scheme for the improvement of crofters’ cattle. In addition I offered training on ram selection to those within affected crofting groups who wanted it.

  These are transitional arrangements until such time as the Crofters Commission can be given the powers it needs to introduce the proposed Crofting Development Programme.

Local Government Finance

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority spent on external consultancy in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Mr Andy Kerr: This information is not collected centrally. Such spending decisions are for local authorities to make, although they are required to secure Best Value in doing so.

Local Government in Scotland Act 2003

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how often the power to advance well-being under Part 3 of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 has been used by each local authority.

Mr Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-7844 on 11 May 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Scottish Parliament website.

  The search facility can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Multiple Sclerosis

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been prescribed beta interferon or glatiramer acetate for the treatment of multiple sclerosis in each year since 1998, broken down by NHS board.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information is not held centrally in the form requested. The information available to the Executive, which was collected on an informal basis, is given in the table. The information is given on a national basis in order not to disclose information that may relate to an individual patient.

  

 Date
 Number of Patients 
  in Scotland Treated with Beta Interferon or Glatiramer Acetate


 December 1999
 181


 October 2000
 254


 April 2002
 350 (approximately)



  A UK-wide risk-sharing scheme for the treatment of eligible patients with multiple sclerosis began on 6 May 2002. The scheme allows beta interferon and glatiramer acetate to be prescribed on the NHS to patients who meet criteria developed by the Association of British Neurologists. The Sheffield University School for Health and Related Research (ScHARR) is responsible for collecting and analysing information on health outcomes for patients who receive treatment under the scheme. At the end of April 2004, there were approximately 850 patients in Scotland receiving treatment with beta interferon or glatiramer acetate.

Multiple Sclerosis

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have waited to be assessed to determine if they would benefit from beta interferon or glatiramer acetate for the treatment of multiple sclerosis in each year since 1998, broken down by NHS board.

Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not held centrally. The question of whether an individual patient might benefit from treatment with beta interferon or glatiramer acetate is a matter for the clinical judgement of the specialist concerned, informed by advice and evidence about its use. Clinical decisions regarding the treatment of individual patients’ are not available centrally.

  The UK-wide risk-sharing scheme for beta interferon and glatiramer acetate allows these treatments to be prescribed on the NHS to patients who meet criteria developed by the Association of British Neurologists (ABN). The guidance which explained the scheme, Health Department Letter (2002)6, which is available from the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 20653), estimated that the total number of patients in Scotland who fall within the ABN guidelines might be in the range 1,300 to 1,560.

National Health Service

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will meet additional unplanned cost pressures in the NHS arising from the new consultants' contract and GP contract.

Malcolm Chisholm: The cost of the consultants’ contract will be met through NHS boards’ general allocations. Boards have received record funding in this spending round and the cost of the new contract will be subsumed within the very significant overall real-terms uplift received by boards. An additional £30 million was allocated to NHS boards in March 2004 in order to help meet the pressures relating to pay and service modernisation.

  Implementation of the new General Medical Services contract in Scotland is supported by a 33% increased investment in primary care over three years to cover the costs of delivering the contract.

National Health Service

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current financial position is of each NHS trust and board in respect of (a) primary and (b) secondary health care.

Malcolm Chisholm: Financial monitoring of NHS trusts and boards is carried out at an aggregate level by the Scottish Executive. Information is not held on the current financial position of each NHS trust and board in respect of primary and secondary health care.

  As at April 2004, the net forecast position for NHSScotland for 2003-04 is an in-year over commitment of £35 million as shown in Table 1. Given that this figure is a forecast it is expected to change, and indeed improve, by the year-end.

  Projected 2003-04 forecast as at April 2004

  

 NHS Boards
 2003-04 Forecast 
  Under/(Over) Spend £000


 Argyll and Clyde 
 (36,000)


 Ayrshire and Arran
 11,671


 Borders 
 0


 Dumfries and Galloway 
 5,200


 Fife
 (500)


 Forth Valley
 0


 Grampian
 (11,600)


 Greater Glasgow
 0


 Highland
 1,855


 Lanarkshire 
 (23,542)


 Lothian
 8,000


 Tayside
 2,000


 Orkney
 (152)


 Shetland
 (72)


 Western Isles
 (341)


 Common Services Agency
 425


 NHS Education for Scotland
 3,200


 State Hospital
 1,770


 Scottish Ambulance Service
 0


 NHS Quality Improvement Scotland
 500


 NHS24
 1,045


 NHS Health Scotland
 0


 National Waiting Times Centre
 1,500


 Total
 (35,041)

Planning

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made a decision with regard to planning permission for the proposed footbridge over the River Nith at Troqueer, Dumfries, and, if so, what that decision is.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: This planning application by Dumfries and Galloway Council was notified to the Scottish ministers in November 2002. After careful consideration of the case, the Scottish ministers decided that there were no issues of national significance that would justify their intervention and therefore deemed planning permission was granted in December 2002.

Public Sector

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been provided for public bodies on considering ethical issues in procurement policies.

Tavish Scott: The Scottish Public Finance Manual states that the highest standards of purchasing ethics such as honesty, integrity, impartiality and objectivity must be observed by purchasers in all dealings with suppliers and potential suppliers.

  It is standard practice in the Executive when dealing with higher value contracts to require suppliers to reveal details of criminal convictions in the conduct of their business. We also require confirmation that suppliers have met other legal obligations, for example payment of taxes and social security contributions.

  The European Commission has issued comprehensive guidance for public purchasers on integrating social issues into public procurement.

Roads

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what sums were awarded by each local authority as compensation to motorists and other road users as a result of potholes and other defects on local authority maintained roads and in each year since 1999.

Nicol Stephen: This is a matter for individual local authorities. The information requested is not held centrally.

Scottish Executive

Frances Curran (West of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are in place to record and report meetings of civil servants with (a) business representatives, (b) trade unions, (c) the voluntary sector, (d) lobbyists and (e) other outside interests, (i) in the course of their official duties and (ii) at social events.

Frances Curran (West of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are in place to record and report meetings of ministers and their deputies with (a) business representatives, (b) trade unions, (c) the voluntary sector, (d) lobbyists and (e) other outside interests, (i) in the course of their official duties and (ii) at social events.

Mr Andy Kerr: Scottish Executive ministers and staff regularly meet a wide range of bodies. Well established arrangements are in place to ensure that key decisions and action points from these meetings are recorded and that arrangements are in place to ensure the necessary follow up action takes place. However, not all meetings require a formal record.

  Corporate training courses, online learning, and good practice guidance on the recording and reporting of meetings is available and encouraged to staff.

Scottish Executive

Frances Curran (West of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are in place to monitor, record and report (a) gifts, (b) hospitality and (c) gifts in kind from (i) business representatives, (ii) trade unions, (iii) the voluntary sector, (iv) lobbyists and (v) other outside interests.

Mr Andy Kerr: The rules governing the acceptance of gifts and hospitality by Scottish Executive staff are at Appendix 4 of Section A10.1 of the Scottish Executive Staff Handbook , which is available on the intranet. All gifts which have a retail value clearly under £5, and which are acceptable in terms of the other criteria, may be accepted without reference to HR Policy Team. Gifts with a retail value over £5 must be reported to HR Policy Team. For hospitality there is a similar distinction on the basis of value, as between, for instance, working lunches and more expensive social or sporting functions, travel or accommodation. HR Policy Team record and monitor the information reported by staff.

  The rules governing the acceptance of gifts by Scottish Executive ministers are set out in chapter 9 of the Scottish Ministerial Code. Receipt of all gifts should be reported to the Permanent Secretary. Gifts with a retail value up to £140 may be retained by the recipient. Gifts of a higher retail value should be handed over to the Permanent Secretary, but there are some exceptions with this. For example, the recipient may purchase the gift at its cash value, abated by £140. Registration of hospitality would normally be required for hospitality over £250 in value. The Office of the Permanent Secretary records and monitors the information reported by Ministerial Offices.

Scottish Executive

Frances Curran (West of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish a full account of meetings between (a) business representatives, (b) trade unions, (c) the voluntary sector, (d) lobbyists and (e) other outside interests and (i) civil servants and (ii) ministers since May 1999, showing also the name, affiliation and client of those attending, subject discussed and nature of the discussion.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive will not be publishing full accounts of meetings which have been formally recorded since May 2001. This would require disproportionate resources to research all Scottish Executive files to identify the formal records. There are also Data Protection Act implications to consider.

Scottish Executive Funding

George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much central funding has been allocated to Argyll and Bute Council in each of the last three years and how much will be allocated for 2004-05.

Tavish Scott: The main central funding allocated to Argyll and Bute Council is shown in the table.

  

 (£ Million)
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05


 Aggregate External Finance
 121.8
 136.7
 149.1
 159.0



  I also refer the member to the answers given to questions S2W-5294 and S2W-5310 on 18 March 2004 and 19 January 2004 respectively. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliaments website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Teachers

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on directing teachers to schools with subject shortages within the employing local authority.

Peter Peacock: The employment and deployment of teachers is a matter for individual local authorities.

Veterinary Surgeons

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-7447 by Allan Wilson on 21 April 2004, what the terms of reference are of the working group on large animal veterinary services.

Ross Finnie: The Working Group on Vets and Veterinary Services is required to produce a report that highlights the challenges and opportunities facing the provision of large animal veterinary services in Great Britain. It will identify the problems and propose solutions to mitigate these problems.

Veterinary Surgeons

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-7447 by Allan Wilson on 21 April 2004, what the names and backgrounds are of the members of the working group on large animal veterinary services.

Ross Finnie: The working group’s composition differs at its five meetings across Great Britain, each focussing on a specific area of concern. Whilst there is a core membership of organisations across each of the meetings, individual attendance varies.

  The Edinburgh working group focussed on education and delivery of veterinary service and the attendees were:

  

 Name:
 Organisation:


 Libby Anderson
 Scottish Society of Prevention 
  of Cruelty to Animals


 Stuart Ashworth
 Quality Meat Scotland


 David Whitericker
 University of Glasgow Veterinary 
  College


 David Barrett
 University of Glasgow Veterinary 
  College


 Colin Penny
 University of Edinburgh 
  Veterinary College


 Mike Lamont 
 State Veterinary Service


 Derek Stallard
 State Veterinary Service


 Mike Sharp 
 Veterinary Laboratories 
  Agency


 Jane Downes
 Meat Hygiene Service


 Alexis Easson
 Scottish Higher Education 
  Funding Council


 Anthony Bates
 Scottish Executive 


 Ian Anderson
 Scottish Executive 


 Neil Ritchie
 Scottish Executive 


 Alex Trifkovic
 Scottish Executive 


 Sabine Brun
 French Embassy


 Charles Milne
 Chief Veterinary Officer 
  Scotland


 Tony Edwards
 Chief Veterinary Officer 
  Wales


 Lucy Hansen
 Edinburgh Veterinary Student


 Anita Inderdall
 Edinburgh Veterinary Student


 Alasdair Stuart
 Edinburgh Veterinary Student


 Colin Macleod
 Defra


 Veryan Nicholls
 Defra


 Bill Parish
 Defra


 Carl Padgett
 British Cattle Veterinary 
  Association


 Jeremy Johnson
 British Veterinary Association


 Donald Ferguson
 British Veterinary Association


 Barry Johnson
 Royal College of Veterinary 
  Surgeons


 Brian Hosie
 Sheep Veterinary Society


 Sandy Clark
 Practising Vet


 Dominic Plumley
 Practising Vet


 David Reed
 Practising Vet


 Iain Richards
 Practising Vet


 Graeme Richardson
 Practising Vet


 Iain McCulloch
 Practising Vet


 Mike Robson 
 Practising Vet


 Andrew Sayer
 Practising Vet


 Freda Scott-Park
 Practising Vet


 Ross Muir
 Practising Vet


 Colin Silver
 Practising Vet


 John Sproat
 Practising Vet


 Frank Stephen
 Practising Vet


 David Taylor
 Practising Vet


 Sam Duff
 Practising Vet


 Hugh Jardine
 Practising Vet


 Nigel Miller
 National Farmers Union (Scotland)


 John Tullie
 Farmer


 Robert Newlands 
 Farmer


 W Kilpatrick 
 Farmer


 W Whiteford 
 Farmer


 Jim Shanks
 Scottish Association of 
  Young Farmers Clubs


 David Weaver
 National Association of 
  Cattle Foot Trimmers


 Jock Timlet
 National Association of 
  Cattle Foot Trimmers


 Charles Harding
 National Association of 
  Cattle Foot Trimmers

Water Services

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to develop water and sewerage infrastructure in the Highlands and Islands, in light of the recent announcement of funds for new affordable homes in the region.

Ross Finnie: I understand that Communities Scotland has not finalised its investment plans for the Highlands and Islands following its recent announcements. In these circumstances, it is not possible to comment in detail on any plans to develop water and wastewater infrastructure in specific locations in respect of the recent announcement.

  However, and as you will know from recent correspondence with Allan Wilson, Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development, Communities Scotland and the Executive are liaising over the possibility of aligning the CS investment programme and the funding specifically allocated in Scottish Water’s current programme for investment in the rural water and sewerage infrastructure.

  I can confirm that Scottish Water has made plans to invest considerably in water and wastewater infrastructure in the Highlands and Islands in the period up 2006. Some of the more significant developments include:

  Aviemore, new Waste Water Treatment Works - £7 million

  Lairg, Water Treatment Works upgrade, £900,000

  North East Coast Regional Scheme to improve drinking water quality for populations of North Coast of Scotland - £25 million

  Lochaber, upgrading water treatment works at Salen, Drimnin and Acharacle - £4.4 million

  Carbost, new Waste Water Treatment System - £400,000

  Habost and Gravir, new water pipeline - £1.6 million

  Hoy and Flotta, Water Treatment Works - £1.5 million.

  All new development would be subject to the normal conditions relating to planning requirements in which availability of the relevant infrastructure would be a necessary consideration.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

MSPs' Staff

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, further to the answer to question S2W-7769 by Duncan McNeil on 12 May 2004, how it is decided whether any classroom-based course being offered to its staff is appropriate to MSPs’ staff and who makes such decisions.

Duncan McNeil (on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body): Normally the decision is a joint one between the employing member and the Training and Development Manager, having regard to the particular development needs of the individual concerned.

MSPs' Staff

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will provide MSPs with a staff training and development budget to enable them to provide similar personal and career development opportunities to their staff to those offered to staff directly employed by it.

Duncan McNeil (on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body): Members’ staff training costs are a legitimate charge against the Members’ Support Allowance. The Corporate Body has no plans at present to increase the Members Support Allowance.

Parliamentary Committees

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many times each parliamentary committee has met outside the parliamentary complex in each year since 1999.

George Reid: The number of formal committee meetings held outside the parliamentary complex by each committee in each year since 1999 is shown in the table. The table does not include fact finding trips or committee events, details of which for the period 1999 to 2002 can be found in the source sheets published on the Parliament’s website at :

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/S1/parl_bus/annreps.html, and in the annual reports by committees published by the Parliament.

  Committee Meetings Outside Edinburgh since 1999

  

 Committee
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001–02
 2002–03


 Audit 
 0
 2
 0
 0


 Education, Culture and Sport 
  
 0
 3
 2
 2


 Enterprise and Lifelong Learning
 1
 1
 1
 2


 Equal Opportunities
 0
 0
 0
 1


 European 
 1
 0
 0
 0


 Finance 
 0
 1
 2
 2


 Health and Community Care
 0
 0
 1
 2


 Justice and Home Affairs
 1
 2
 n/a
 n/a


 Justice 1
 n/a
 0
 0
 1


 Justice 2
 n/a
 0
 2
 0


 Local Government
 2
 1
 0
 2


 Procedures
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Public Petitions 
 1
 1
 0
 0


 Robin Rigg Offshore Wind
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a
 2


 Farm (Navigation and Fishing) 
  (Scotland) Bill Committee 
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Rural Affairs (until 7 Jan 
  2001)
 0
 1
 n/a
 n/a


 Rural Development (from 8 Jan 
  2001)
 n/a
 
 3
 4


 Social Inclusion, Housing and 
  Voluntary Sector (until 7 January 2001)
 2
 0
 n/a
 n/a


 Social Justice (from 8 January 
  2001)
 n/a
 0
 0
 0


 Standards 
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Subordinate Legislation
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Transport and the Environment 
  
 0
 0
 0
 0